Installing PHP5 with Apache 2.2 on Windows

Steps:
1. Download Apache Binary with OpenSSL
2. Download PHP5 Binary
3. Install Apache
4. Test 'localhost' in a browser, you should see Apache 'It works!' page.
5. Install PHP5
6. When prompted, choose the correct Apache config directory.
e.g. C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\conf
7. When that is complete, find PHP section at bottom of Apache httpd.conf and update to the following:

#BEGIN PHP INSTALLER EDITS - REMOVE ONLY ON UNINSTALL
PHPIniDir "C:/Program Files/PHP/"
LoadModule php5_module "C:/Program Files/PHP/php5apache2_2.dll"
AddHandler php5-script php

AddType text/html php
AddType application/x-httpd-php-source phps

#END PHP INSTALLER EDITS - REMOVE ONLY ON UNINSTALL

8. Restart Apache
9. Go to Apache htdocs folder and add a file called test.php with the following code (remove spaces in php tag):

< ? php phpinfo(); ? >

10. Hit localhost/test.php in a browser and verify that you see the phpinfo block.
11. (Optional) If you want to see debug info for php:
change the following in php.ini in PHP directory:

display_errors = On

Restart Apache for changes to php.ini to take effect.
12. Done

Firefox extensions I use

Development

Firebug - a must have for developers
FireScope - reference add in for Firebug, very cool
Developer toolbar - no-brainer but some people don't include this on install
TamperData - muck with headers before a request is sent, see full response from server
GreaseMonkey
DOM Inspector

Other

Download Statusbar - moves download progress bars from pop up to bar at the bottom of the browser
FireFTP - FTP Client in firefox
Fast Video Download
Ad-Block

Edit: Added a few more, thanks to Patrick

VirtualBox - Open Source Virtual Machines

From the site:

Presently, VirtualBox runs on Windows, Linux, Macintosh and OpenSolaris hosts and supports a large number of guest operating systems including but not limited to Windows (NT 4.0, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista), DOS/Windows 3.x, Linux (2.4 and 2.6), Solaris and OpenSolaris, and OpenBSD.

http://www.virtualbox.org/

DebugBar for IE

http://www.debugbar.com/

Great tool similar to Firebug for Firefox, only in IE.

Also has another plugin to view your page in multiple versions of IE, works great for compatibility testing.

Getting Going Again... Again

Ok, so I just put two and two together the other day and realized that I could solve two problems at once: my lack of blogging here and my want to use something other than Google Notebook to keep track of links. So... much like my other initiatives around here, this might not last long, but there are somethings that I can add immediately. I'll try to post a quick description / review of things that I add here, occasionally it may just be a link... we shall see.

Getting Rolling Again

Ok, so, why wait? I now work at The Atlantic Media Company, where I am the Project Manager for the National Journal Group, publisher of the National Journal. So that's that.

Musically, things are going a bit slow on the new stuff but the follow up to Alkalai is definitely in the works. Look for some new stuff soon.

We are moving to a new apartment at the end of the month, so that will also keep me distracted I'm sure.

One last thing: Obama - Biden '08

I'll definitely jump on the political soapbox around here. Starting with the next posts.

Is This Thing On?

Yeah, so it has been a bit. Basically been laying a bit low since I departed Siteworx. I am preparing a few updates so that everyone knows what is going on, hopefully I'll get some posts here soon.